Troops repel ISWAP attack on Borno base, detonate IED

Troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion under Operation Hadin Kai have repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau in Borno State.

Security sources said the attack occurred around 2am on Saturday, August 15, 2026, when the terrorists launched an assault on the base from two fronts.

The troops, who were reportedly on alert, engaged the attackers and deployed reinforcement teams to positions along suspected routes of advance.

The terrorists were repelled on one axis following a heavy exchange of fire, while another group attempting to breach the base through a river line was also forced to withdraw.

The troops reportedly pursued the fleeing terrorists but suspended the operation due to poor visibility and difficult terrain. Further exploitation of the area was expected to resume at first light.

No troop casualties were recorded, while the number of terrorist casualties remained unknown.

Meanwhile, troops conducting a follow-up clearance operation along the Mandaragirau-Kana axis discovered and safely detonated a command-detonated improvised explosive device suspected to have been planted to target military reinforcements.

The IED was reportedly found near a bridge along the route and neutralised before it could be triggered.

During the clearance operation, troops also discovered the body of a civilian reportedly killed by another IED planted by the terrorists in the area.

The security sources said troops would continue clearance operations along the axis, while further assessment and documentation of the incidents were ongoing.

The general area was said to remain calm but unpredictable as troops sustained operations against terrorist elements.